Defaced Monument Rededicated Security Tightened At Jewish Ceremony

DELRAY BEACH -- A Jewish War Veterans monument defaced by vandals and the focus of a series of anti-Semitic acts was rededicated on Sunday in an impassioned ceremony that drew nearly 300 people.

At least a dozen uniformed officers were sprinkled around the perimeter of the ceremony at Veterans Park, and plainclothes officers mingled with the crowd of veterans, civic activists, and Jewish groups.

As many as 30 members of the Jewish Defense League also patrolled the area.

Prompting the tight security was the beating Thursday of Murray Hymowitz, 74, of Kings Point near Delray Beach, by three men. The incident is believed to be related to the 6-foot high gray marble monument.

In January, vandals toppled the monument from its pedestal in the park on Atlantic Avenue at the Intracoastal Waterway.

Calling Hymowitz, the former commander of the Jewish War Veterans Post 266, a derogatory name, the attackers pummelled him on Thursday and bashed his head against a concrete wall.

``Today is the fulfillment of something we wanted for a long time,`` said Hymowitz, who attended the rededication. He wore a bandage over his left eye while several local dignitaries, including three county commissioners, delivered speeches near the monument, which bears a Star of David at the top.

``Even though they knocked it down, we made (the monument) stand tall again,`` said Hymowitz, whose name is on the slab erected by Post 266 and refurbished at a cost of $1,600.

A new line was added to the monument explaining that it honored ``all veterans of all wars in defense of our country.``

Hymowitz said he hopes his attackers take note of the showing of ``solidarity`` at the ceremony that cut across denominational lines.

``They`ll see they`ve got a lost cause,`` said Hymowitz, a World War II veteran.

Hymowitz he said he felt ``bruised and stiff.`` He said doctors suspected he might have some internal bleeding and plan to examine him for that.

The Anti-Defamation League, whose members attended the ceremony, is investigating the attack on Hymowitz, said Arthur Teitelbaum, the group`s southern regional director.

Officials said there is no evidence of a large anti-Semitic network at work in southern Palm Beach County. He said his organization will be checking its files to find extremist groups that may be involved.

``We will not rest until we search out and find the perpetrators of these horrendous acts,`` said Louise Shure, regional director of B`nai B`rith`s Anti-Defamation League.

No arrest has been made in the incident, police said.

Rabbi Sam Silver said the beating works against bigotry the same way an innoculation builds a body`s immunity to a virus.

``The little bit of the disease of bigotry injected here at Kings Point acts the same as an innoculation . . . We have gathered here to demonstrate our resistance to it,`` Silver said.

The rabbi said the beating Hymowitz took extends to all veterans.

``What they were really pummelling -- desecrating -- was the American Flag,`` Silver said.

Palm Beach County Commissioner Ken Adams, recalling ``the unspeakable atrocities imposed on Jewish people`` during the Holocaust, said of the beating: ``We never thought we`d see this . . . in this county.``

Jewish groups have put up a reward of $3,000 for information leading to the arrest of the attackers, said Post 266 Commander Joseph Dinowitz.

The recipient of several threatening, anti-Semitic phone calls, Hymowitz told sheriff`s deputies he was attacked about 11:30 a.m. while leaving a meeting of Post 266 at American Savings Bank in the Kings Point Shopping Center.

He told investigators three men emerged from a car. Two held him and the third punched him in the stomach.

The attackers referred to the monument, saying they would knock it down again, Hymowitz told deputies.

Despite an emergency meeting Thursday night, the group decided to go ahead with the dedication.